The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding the service of documents in court-ordered evaluations and treatments. Under A. A person who is ordered to undergo involuntary evaluation has the right to receive by personal service the documents specified in section 36-529, subsection E. A person who is the subject of a petition for court-ordered treatment has the right to receive by personal service the documents specified in section 36-536, subsection D. Personal service shall be completed by a peace officer, the bill would modify this to allow service by an employee of a screening agency or evaluation agency in addition to peace officers and process servers. It also clarifies that service can be performed by a person prescribed by law or court rule, or as ordered by the court, rather than strictly by those authorized under the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure. Additionally, the bill introduces B. In a proceeding under this chapter involving a petition for court-ordered evaluation or court-ordered treatment, if the proposed patient is admitted to a facility that is licensed as a screening agency or an evaluation agency at the time the petition is filed, the court may authorize a person employed by the screening agency or evaluation agency to serve the documents. It also specifies that an evaluation agency or screening agency may only receive reimbursement for the service of documents under subsection B of this section pursuant to a contract with a county, ensuring that these agencies are not financially responsible for serving documents as outlined in section 36-510.01.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-510.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 36-510.01
House Engrossed Version: 36-510.01